Express & Star

Pop art exhibition back at Wolverhampton gallery

Art lovers can admire one of the UK's largest collections of pop art when it returns to its home next month.

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Credit: Boty, Pauline. (1938 – 1966) Colour Her Gone, 1962

'Pick of the Pops' is an exhibition displaying an iconic collection owned by Wolverhampton Council.

Lichfield Street's Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which boasts the largest pop art collection outside of London, will welcome the exhibition back into the venue after time away on tour.

Councillor John Reynolds, the council's cabinet member for city economy, said: "We are known nationally and beyond for our fantastic Pop Art collection at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

“We have a variety of pieces that look at a range of colour and challenge the traditions of objects, comic books and advertising.

“I am pleased to have it back on display after the works have been touring the UK and hope visitors to the gallery will enjoy the exhibition.”

Art gallery visitors will be able to see more than 20 pieces of work on display from February 2.

The free exhibition includes Roy Lichtenstein’s ‘Purist Painting with Bottles’, which is an oil painting showing abstracted bottles, a cocktail glass and other shapes in a Purist style.

Richard Hamlinton’s ‘Adonis in Y Fronts’, which looks at male beauty and Andy Warhol’s ‘Campbell's Soup’, inspired by UK and American branding and advertisement, will also feature.

Visitors will also be able to look at Pauline Boty’s famous ‘Colour Her Gone’, which includes an image of Marilyn Monroe in the 1960s, as well as and 'King Kong' by Nicholas Monro.

Other works included are Clive Barkers’ ‘Study for Sculpture (Marilyn on a Coke Bottle)’, ‘Beach Boys’ by Peter Blake, ‘Dream T-shirt’ by Allen Jones and another of Warhol’s pieces ‘Jacqueline’.

Residents will have the chance to vote for their favourite pop art piece via a comment box during the exhibition, with he winner crowned the ‘Pick of the Pops’.

Voting closes at 4,30pm on August 30 at 4.30pm, with the winner to be announced in September.